About the Tate collection

Tate holds the national collection of British art from 1500 to the present day and international modern and contemporary art.

The collection embraces all media, from painting, drawing, sculpture and prints to photography, video and film, installation and performance.

Scope of the collection

Tate seeks to represent significant developments in art, in all areas within its remit, with artworks of outstanding quality and importance.

British art is represented by artists chosen for their contribution to its history and development, rather than their nationality alone.

While it has traditionally focused on art from Western Europe and North America, has recently expanded its holdings of modern and contemporary artworks from Africa, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia.

The collection on display

The collection is on display at Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives and around the world in temporary and long term exhibitions, via loans. Tate rotates the displays at all its sites, giving exposure to as much of the collection as possible.

The collection online

Enjoy the collection online in our art and artists pages. Every work in the collection has its own page, most illustrated with good quality images. Watch slideshows, browse, search, follow themes and learn about the artworks and art movements. Where work is currently on display at Tate this is indicated. We also publish information on works that are part of the fabric of Tate gallery buildings.

The collection on request

Anyone can access Tate’s Archive, which includes the gallery’s institutional records and a wealth of material relating to the collection, such as notebooks, sketches, prints and press cuttings. Tate Library’s unique collection covers British art from 1500 and international art from 1900 to the present day. It includes artists’ books, exhibition and collection catalogues, journals and various publications. Both can be accessed in the Reading Rooms at Tate Britain.